change horses in midstream

1. To choose a new leader during a period of upheaval or uncertainty. The prime minister has been at the helm throughout the crisis. I just don't think we should change horses in midstream. Wartime presidents are often reelected, as the population rarely wants to change horses in midstream. Many people are dissatisfied with the senator's performance, but he will likely carry his party's support through to the next election—don't change horses in midstream, as the saying goes.

2. To make major changes to a situation or course of action that is already underway. We're about to close on the house, and my husband suddenly wants to change horses in midstream and look at another property! I'm really not confident in the strength of my essay, but I guess I just have to see this one through rather than change horses in midstream. Her renovations went awry because she kept changing horses in midstream. I'm not surprised the contractors couldn't keep track of it all!

change horses midstream

1. To choose a new leader during a period of upheaval or uncertainty. The prime minister has been at the helm throughout the crisis. I just don't think we should change horses midstream. Wartime presidents are often reelected, as the population rarely wants to change horses midstream. Many people are dissatisfied with the senator's performance, but he will likely carry his party's support through to the next election—don't change horses in midstream, as the saying goes.

2. To make major changes to a situation or course of action that is already underway. We're about to close on the house, and my husband suddenly wants to change horses midstream and look at another property! This merger deal is nearly finalized, Bruce. We can't change horses midstream! Her renovations went awry because she kept changing horses midstream. I'm not surprised the contractors couldn't keep track of it all!

Don't change horses at midstream.

1. proverb Do not try to choose or back a different political figure for an election after the decision has already been made or the position filled. Many people are dissatisfied with the senator's performance, but he will likely carry his party's support through to the next election—don't change horses at midstream, as the saying goes. The prime minister has been at the helm throughout the crisis. My thought is, don't change horses at midstream. Yes, wartime presidents are often reelected. "Don't change horses at midstream," as they say.

2. proverb By extension, do not make major changes to a situation or course of action that is already underway. I'm really not confident in the strength of my essay, but I guess I just have to see this one through at this point. Like they say, don't change horses at midstream. If you're about to close on a house, don't change horses at midstream and start looking at other properties! If you want your contractors to be able to keep track of everything, don't change horses at midstream and continually alter the renovation plans!

Don't change horses in midstream.

1. proverb Do not try to choose or back a different political figure for an election after the decision has already been made or the position filled. Many people are dissatisfied with the senator's performance, but he will likely carry his party's support through to the next election—don't change horses in midstream, as the saying goes. The prime minister has been at the helm throughout the crisis. My thought is, don't change horses in midstream. Yes, wartime presidents are often reelected. "Don't change horses in midstream," as they say.

2. proverb By extension, do not make major changes to a situation or course of action that is already underway. I'm really not confident in the strength of my essay, but I guess I just have to see this one through at this point. Like they say, don't change horses in midstream. If you're about to close on a house, don't change horses in midstream and start looking at other properties! If you want your contractors to be able to keep track of everything, don't change horses in midstream and continually alter the renovation plans!

Don't change horses midstream.

1. proverb Do not try to choose or back a different political figure for an election after the decision has already been made or the position filled. Many people are dissatisfied with the senator's performance, but he will likely carry his party's support through to the next election—don't change horses midstream, as the saying goes. The prime minister has been at the helm throughout the crisis. My thought is, don't change horses midstream. Yes, wartime presidents are often reelected. "Don't change horses midstream," as they say.

2. proverb By extension, do not make major changes to a situation or course of action that is already underway. I'm really not confident in the strength of my essay, but I guess I just have to see this one through at this point. Like they say, don't change horses midstream. If you're about to close on a house, don't change horses midstream and start looking at other properties! If you want your contractors to be able to keep track of everything, don't change horses midstream and continually alter the renovation plans!

Don't swap horses at midstream.

1. proverb Do not try to choose or back a different political figure for an election after the decision has already been made or the position filled. Many people are dissatisfied with the senator's performance but will likely carry his party's support through to the next election—don't swap horses at midstream, as the saying goes. The prime minister has been at the helm throughout the crisis. My thought is, don't swap horses at midstream. Yes, wartime presidents are often reelected. "Don't swap horses at midstream," as they say.

2. proverb By extension, do not make major changes to a situation or course of action that is already underway. I'm really not confident in the strength of my essay, but I guess I just have to see this one through at this point. Like they say, don't swap horses at midstream. If you're about to close on a house, don't swap horses at midstream and start looking at other properties! If you want your contractors to be able to keep track of everything, don't swap horses at midstream and continually alter the renovation plans!

Don't swap horses in midstream.

1. proverb Do not try to choose or back a different political figure for an election after the decision has already been made or the position filled. Many people are dissatisfied with the senator's performance but will likely carry his party's support through to the next election—don't swap horses in midstream, as the saying goes. The prime minister has been at the helm throughout the crisis. My thought is, don't swap horses in midstream. Yes, wartime presidents are often reelected. "Don't swap horses in midstream," as they say.

2. proverb By extension, do not make major changes to a situation or course of action that is already underway. I'm really not confident in the strength of my essay, but I guess I just have to see this one through at this point. Like they say, swap change horses in midstream. If you're about to close on a house, don't swap horses in midstream and start looking at other properties! If you want your contractors to be able to keep track of everything, don't swap horses in midstream and continually alter the renovation plans!

in midstream

In the middle of an active or ongoing activity. Likened to happening while one is in the middle of crossing a stream. The lecturer paused in midstream during class, appearing to be lost in thought, before suddenly grabbing his bag and leaving in a rush. Wartime presidents are often reelected, as the population rarely wants to undergo drastic change in midstream. We were moving along nicely, but then a traffic jam stopped us in midstream.

swap horses in midstream

1. To choose a new leader during a period of upheaval or uncertainty. The prime minister has been at the helm throughout the crisis. I just don't think we should swap horses in midstream.

2. To make major changes to a situation or course of action that is already underway. We're about to close on the house, and my husband suddenly wants to swap horses in midstream and look at another property!

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

change horses in midstream

Fig. to make major changes in an activity that has already begun; to choose someone or something else after it is too late. (Alludes to someone trying to move from one horse to another while crossing a stream.) I'm already baking a cherry pie. I can't bake an apple pie. It's too late to change horses in the middle of the stream. The house is half-built. It's too late to hire a different architect. You can't change horses in midstream. Jane: I've written a rough draft of my research paper, but the topic doesn't interest me as much as I thought. Maybe I ought to pick a different one. Jill: Don't change horses in midstream.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

change horses in midstream, don't

Also, don't swap horses in midstream. It's unwise to alter methods or choose new leaders during a crisis, as in I don't hold with getting a new manager right now-let's not swap horses in midstream. This expression was popularized (although not originated) by Abraham Lincoln in a speech in 1864 when he discovered that the National Union League was supporting him for a second term as President.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

change horses in midstream

switch horses in midstream

If someone changes horses in midstream or switches horses in midstream, they stop using one method or thing and start using another one, or they stop supporting one person and start supporting someone else. I think we were very wise not to change horses in midstream. Note: You can also just say that someone changes horses or switches horses. Andersson is angered at the way Taylor initially supported the deal, only to switch horses later and back the opposing bid. Note: These expressions are often used to advise someone against doing one of these things. Note: The American President Abraham Lincoln used this expression in 1864, `I am reminded of the story of an old Dutch farmer, who remarked to a companion that it was best not to swap horses when crossing streams.'

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

don't change horses in midstream

This expression is quoted by Abraham Lincoln in 1864 as the saying of ‘an old Dutch farmer’. Early versions of it used swap instead of change .

in midstream

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

change/swap horses in midˈstream

in midˈstream

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

don't change/swap horses in midstream

Don’t change methods or leaders in the middle of a crisis. Although originating a quarter of a century earlier, the expression became famous through its use by President Lincoln in 1864 when he learned that his renomination for a second term was being backed by the National Union League. Several versions of his speech were recorded, some having it change and others swap.

The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer

• change horses in midstream
• change horses in the middle of the stream
• change horses in the middle of the stream Go to
• change horses midstream
• change/swap horses in midstream
• swap horses in midstream
• choose from
• choose from (people or things)
• choose
• choose between two people or things